1983 Lincoln Memorial Cent
| Weight | 2.5 grams |
| Diameter | 19.05 mm |
| Mint | Philadelphia |
| Mintage | 7,752,355,000 Combined mintage for all 1983 Philadelphia varieties |
| Edge | Plain |
| Alignment | ↑↓ Coin |
| Composition | Copper-plated Zinc (97.5% Zinc, 2.5% Copper) |
| Designer | Victor D. Brenner / Frank Gasparro |
| Collector's Key ID | CK-700 |
The 1983 Philadelphia cent was the first full year of production using only the new copper-plated zinc composition. The transition from bronze was complete. All 1983 cents weigh 2.5 grams and have a zinc core with a thin copper plating. Philadelphia produced over 7.75 billion of them.
The economy was emerging from a deep recession. Unemployment peaked above 10% in early 1983 before beginning a long decline. The U.S. Embassy in Beirut was bombed in April, and Marines were killed in a barracks bombing there in October. The 1983 Philadelphia cent is extremely common and carries no mintmark. Collectors who pick one up and compare it to a pre-1982 cent will notice the lighter weight immediately.
| Grade | Description | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| G-4 | Good (G) | $0.01 |
| VG-8 | Very Good (VG) | $0.01 |
| F-12 | Fine (F) | $0.01 |
| VF-20 | Very Fine (VF) | $0.01 |
| EF-40 | Extremely Fine (EF) | $0.01 |
| AU-50 | About Uncirculated (AU) | $0.01 |
| MS-60 | Uncirculated (MS) | — |
| MS-63 | Choice Uncirculated (MS) | — |
This table is for educational purposes only and is intended to illustrate general market price trends and pricing steps between grades. Actual market conditions may vary significantly, especially for rarer pieces that often command premiums above the ranges shown here.
- PCGS CoinFacts: Lincoln Memorial Cents
- NGC Coin Explorer: Lincoln Memorial Cents
- Heritage Auctions Archives
- Stack's Bowers Auction Archives
- A Guide Book of United States Coins (The Red Book)